Disclaimer: Not mine, I only own some of the plot of this fanfic and Carya, some parts might be copied from the book (hopefully not very much. I tried to keep it to a minimum), you might notice that some people got into different houses than in the books by JKR; this has only minor reasons, but I need them to be where they are now
Author's Notes: Hello all, while you are reading this I am working hard on Chapter 09 and 10. They are both partly done but need much working on until they are ready to be published. With a bit of luck I'll get them out before christmas vacation starts for me .
Enjoy!
Chapter 08 - Patronus and Werewolves or Training1 and Tea with Lupin
They would study the charm whenever they found the time. Harry had been thinking about Quidditch and what would happen if they got near him during a game. His conclusion had been horrible and so they had started training.
Lupin didn't know that the four friends already knew about his 'condition'. So when they didn't see him after four weeks of classes and Professor Snape taught them instead they weren't at all surprised.
But everyone else was. Some Ravenclaw's were stupid enough to ask where Professor Lupin was. Snape's answer should've made everyone suspicious but then again he was always like that and it was no secret that everyone thought he wanted the Dark Arts position.
When he told them to open the books at page 394 - the chapter was about werewolves and he was sure that they hadn't covered it yet, another Ravenclaw made an unwise remark. Hermione just put her head in her hands and thought,
'How stupid can someone be. It's not exactly wise to question Snape like that ...'
"Sir, but we were working on the hinkypunks right now. Professor Lupin said we would work on werewolves later this year ..." Padma Patil said.
"Miss Patil, are you teaching this class or am I?" he asked in a cold and dangerously quiet voice and they all knew it meant danger.
"You are, sir," Padma said almost inaudible.
"Since we have established that you'll all open your books on page 394. Now, all of you!" he said in a deathly calm voice. No one dared to say anything else. And after a few deducted points from Ravenclaw they all silently read the chapter but very few of them could finish it during the lesson.
He assigned them a three feet long essay about werewolves that should be due on the next Defence lesson. Hermione and her three Slytherin friends suspected that he just wanted the students to find out about the other Professor and get the children's parents to demand the removal of their kind and qualified Defence Professor.
"Well I think we should just do the essays. It's a good practise and we can let him know that we don't think like other people ... about werewolves I mean," Hermione said.
"Good idea, I know, I'll put in some of what we've found last week. You remember? The newest issue of 'Potions Master's Journal' had just been delivered and they'd mentioned this new invention that'd help werewolves ..." Carya told them and Harry just nodded.
You could always rely on Carya to remember something like that and actually bring it up in a conversation. Not even Hermione did, although she'd read that article too. The four friends agreed on that and successfully completed the assignment.
Most students did complain to Lupin about the essay Snape had assigned and he told them that they didn't need to start or finish it if they didn't want. As expected apart from the four friends no one had really started their essays. The quartet of course finished theirs and handed them in for correction.
When he read their essays Lupin was quite surprised. Normally works on that topic were either describing werewolves as ruthless, untrustworthy monsters or even worse, as creatures of darkness who should be wiped from the face of earth.
That was mostly based on the prejudices people had against them. But these essays were close to the subject and neither were they prejudiced nor did they pick one the general description of werewolves.
What surprised him the most was Carya's essay. She had mentioned the newly invented Wolfsbane Potion and described its effects quite accurate. It was very unusual that a second year student knew about a potion as complicated as this one and actually understood it's effects on the drinker.
He was almost sure that they knew but he wondered how. It had only been four weeks of school and he hadn't shown the normal signs of his curse this time. In October the quidditch season started and therefore practise was in order.
Harry was quite exhausted sometimes with his studies, quidditch, the animagus training and their additional secret practise on the Patronus Charm. Only their best friends knew that they were trying to learn that particular spell but they didn't know how difficult it actually was until a few weeks later.
It happened a day before their first game. The Slytherin's were practising and integrating their new players. Draco had made it onto the team as beater and he was really good because he had a fantastic aim when it came to bludgers.
Terence Higgs was also back on the team but as chaser this time. The position suited him better so he and Harry called it a truce. Suddenly everyone fell silent. Luckily the training sessions were supervised this year.
Two Dementors had entered the quidditch pitch and Harry crashed into the ground. He had just been chasing the snitch and couldn't stop himself before it was too late when they advanced onto the field.
He lost control and fell, breaking his left arm in the process after crashing into the ground at full speed. It was so quiet that you could hear the bone crack. The Dementors were chased from the grounds and Harry was brought to the infirmary.
Flint used this as an excuse to delay the game to be played later that year. Gryffindor would now play against Hufflepuff and not Slytherin. Harry wasn't happy. To be exact, he was quite the opposite. He was beyond furious.
'Damned Dementors. I need a plan. If that happens in a game then we're lost not to mention I'll most likely end up dead,' he mused.
Lupin had heard about that incident and wanted to make sure that Harry was alright. When he looked for him the next day Harry seemed to have vanished. The Defence Professor searched almost the whole school with the exception of the common rooms.
He finally found him and his sister in the library while everyone else was watching the Quidditch game.
"Damnit, I think that we are doing something wrong. I don't get over this foggy cloud. Are you sure were doing this right, Carya?" Harry asked.
"I'm one hundred percent sure, Harry. Perhaps it's the memory you used, my dear twin. Try another. What about our eleventh birthday, or christmas last year? We have to have a happy memory that is actually strong enough for this to work!" his sister answered.
Lupin stood frozen. Foggy cloud? Happy memory? They couldn't possibly ... but they did. They were practising the Patronus Charm, not very successful but something had obviously happened. Remus watched the frustrated kids for a few minutes and then cleared his throat.
The startled twins looked into his direction.
"Eh, hello Professor Lupin. Is something wrong?" Carya asked cautiously.
"No, no, everything's alright, I think. But you seem to have a few problems here. Maybe I could help you?!" Lupin suggested, "I'm rather surprised that you are almost able to cast a spell that most adults have severe problems with."
"Hmm, maybe but it's not really working. And I don't know why, damnit!" Harry burst out and Carya just snickered at this. Normally she was the one with the short temper but her brother was really frustrated that it didn't work the way he wanted. Harry simply glared at her and sulked.
Their main reason for this was Quidditch. And no one in Slytherin dared to insult Harry when it came to him and quidditch. That was almost suicide. So it was understandable that Harry was quite impatient about learning something that would probably save his life in a game.
"Eh, Professor? Can I ask you a few questions? It's about our first lesson," Carya said remembering that particular lesson quite well.
"Of course but let's move this into my office, shall we?" he offered.
Lupin led Harry and Carya through the right now nearly empty hallways. Neither of them spoke a word until they reached their destination but Harry and Carya shared their thoughts.
/What do you want to ask him?/ Harry wanted to know.
/Only why he didn't let us fight the boggart in our fist lesson. Not that I'd wanted it after we discovered what we feared most,/ said Carya and shivered slightly.
/Yeah, you're right. How could you make a Dementor look funny? I mean, as soon as we get near those monsters we can't even think straight! It's difficult enough to concentrate on the thought then. Maybe Professor Lupin can actually help us with this,/ her brother replied.
/Exactly, I mean, usually we don't need help with any spell but I think this is different. It's a very advanced protection charm. We knew we would most likely fail but we still tried. Well, we had to, there was no other choice.
I don't want to end up as a Dementors breakfast!/ Carya said and looked at Harry.
Harry made a face and told his sister what exactly he thought about that. /Uugh, nice mental image, dear sister. I could've lived without that, really./
Soon they were sitting in the Professors office. It was a bit messy but you felt comfortable there. Not like in Snape's office. That was more like a torture chamber or the like. Lupin offered them some tea and after they'd eyed their cups warily the twins actually drank it.
Their professor was half amused and half worried about that. Did they mistrust him? But then again, they were Harry and Carya Potter. The had a right to be slightly paranoid, hadn't they? They definitely acted more like Slytherin's than Gryffindor's.
'So,' he thought, 'they really are in the right house but how did it come to that?'
"Well, Carya, what exactly do you want to know?" he asked.
"Eh, why didn't you let us fight the boggart? I don't really believe the excuse with us having answered the question at the beginning of class," the girl said eyeing the older wizard curiously.
"Quite observant you are Carya, that's a useful skill sometimes. You are right. That wasn't the only reason I stopped you two. I thought it wouldn't be good if the Dark Lord appeared in the teachers lounge. Even if it was only a boggart. But it seems I was mistaken?" he explained.
"Eh, at first I'd thought about Voldemort but that wouldn't have been much of a problem. We unfortunately know what he looks like but I'd already an idea to take care of him. Neville inspired me," she said with a slight grin.
"And that idea would've been?" asked their now very curious teacher.
Lupin was surprised when she said his name and Harry didn't seem to mind either but he didn't mention it just then.
"I'm sure it would've been funny but I don't think the other students would've understood either. I had thought of putting him into a pink muggle ballet-dress with white hearts all over it. The outfit would be completed with matching shoes and skirt,"
Harry snickered a bit while telling this but then he became serious, "But we realised that it wasn't Voldemort that we feared the most ..."
"... it was the Dementor, right?" Lupin suddenly interrupted, "that's why you are practising that charm. To defeat your worst fear and therefore fear itself. A wise decision but difficult to accomplish.
Perhaps I could be of use. We could practise with a boggart until you're able to perform the Patronus. What do you think?" he asked.
"You would help? That would be great," the twins said in unison.
Suddenly Lupin asked Carya what he had wanted to know all the time, not thinking about the consequences this question could have.
"Carya, I have to say I was surprised by your essay about werewolves. With the other three too, but especially with yours. How come that you aren't using the common prejudices and accusations towards werewolves in your train of arguments?" he wanted to know.
"Well, as you just said, they are only that, prejudices. I don't believe everything of what other people tell me. For all I know werewolves aren't that much different from normal humans. Sure, many of them have quite a short temper but that's the same with me, and I'm not one.
Sometimes with a few people the wolf shows itself without the full-moon but only when they are really angry, upset or completely exhausted. Apart from that they are only dangerous when transformed into a wolf because their human mind is completely suppressed by the beast inside.
Normally that's for two or three days every full-moon. On all other days they are just as harmless as anyone else. And with that new potion they aren't really dangerous anymore because it allows them to keep their human mind even in wolf-form.
They could only be dangerous throughout the actual transformation process," she told him.
He was really surprised at this and unsuccessfully tried to hide it but now they both looked at him oddly and he began to regret his question.
"We won't tell anyone. I think apart from us only Ginny and Hermione know. You have nothing to fear from us. We swear to not use it against you because expulsion for threatening a teacher is not something we want to do, you know? We don't mind you being what you are.
Actually I think our head of house assigned this so that the students would find out. But he hadn't counted on the kids hating any type of homework," Carya said and started giggling at the last comment.
"How did you know I was a werewolf?" Lupin asked curiously.
"Well, there was you being ill during the full-moon period. There was the curious form of your boggart, a silvery floating something - apparently the full-moon - and the way you looked like the days after the full-moon. It all fit together," Harry said. It wasn't the exact truth but came close enough.
"And why do you believe that I mean no harm to you? Not that I mind, Merlin forbid. It's soothing that at least some students trust me even if they know," he said.
"Eh, that's a bit difficult to explain. It has to do with ... our parents," Carya began and Lupin paled a bit,
"Mum left me her diary and you were mentioned in it too. Our mother gave her life to protect us, her children. She always trusted you. And she trusted you enough to announce you our second godfather without our Dad even knowing it.
And before you ask, we know who our other godfather is, but I'd rather avoid that topic at the moment. Please don't tell the headmaster that we know. They all think we're going to do something rash and stupid. Especially Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall.
That's why we trust you more than them right now. You're not treating us like time-bombs right now or as if we're going to break down any time soon," she explained and smiled at him. Harry was smiling too and Lupin felt better than ever since Lily and James had died.
"There's one other thing I want to ask you two. I'm curious as to why you call the Dark Lord by his name. Hardly anyone does it. I only know of the headmaster and Professor Snape here in school," he asked the children.
"Well, he tried to kill us, didn't he? I think that's reason enough," Harry began.
"Yeah, I mean something like attempted murder is a very personal thing, isn't it. I too think that would be enough for us to be on a real name basis with him. I don't think that we're that afraid of him," Carya continued and then her twin took over again.
"We certainly respect his powers. We had to face him and that bastard Quirrell last year. So I think we should call him by his name. It doesn't change a thing if we started to call him You-Know-Who, does it? I mean, it's still the same person," the boy said.
"That's right. And, it's just a name. If we would be afraid to say a name then we certainly would be terrified to meet the person who that name belongs to, that's for sure. Thus, we call him Voldemort," Carya said.
"Or even better by the nickname Carya invented for him over summer," Harry said smiling.
"You invented a nickname for the Dark Lord?" Lupin asked flabbergasted and they nodded, "Would you tell me?"
"Sure. It came up during a discussion about houses over summer. Carya suddenly started smirking and asked if someone should think all Slytherin's are evil just because Moldie-Voldie was in that house too," the Potter boy told his Professor and could hardly hold back a snicker.
"What? You actually called him that?" Lupin asked stunned.
"Well not personally ... yet. Just among us friends but I think if someone called him that face to face he would certainly be seriously pissed off, wouldn't he?" Carya added smirking.
They all had to laugh about that. It certainly was funny and Lupin thought that he even might tell the headmaster about that one. Perhaps they could get everyone to think like the twins. Not underestimating Voldemort's powers but not fearing his name any more.
That would certainly be a good thing. Remus then remembered one of Dumbledore's quotes when he thought about that. 'The fear of a name increases the fear of the thing itself.'
They made some appointments for their training sessions and went separate ways after Lupin had promised not to tell anyone of their knowledge if they agreed to call him Remus or even Uncle Remus when they were in private.
When Carya said she'd prefer his original nickname if allowed he got a little sad but it felt good to have someone to call him that so he agreed to that too. Perhaps it would even help to heal some of the old wounds he carried in his heart, too.
But the twins weren't all that happy. They'd seen how sad and angry Remus had gotten when they'd mentioned Sirius and their parents. They discussed it quietly when they were walking back to their common room.
/Crap, I just wished we could tell him the truth, Harry. It's not fair ... No, don't tell me that life is never fair. I know that. But this time it's especially unfair. He looked so hurt. I'm sure he believes he's all alone and lost all of his friends that Halloween night,/ Carya told him.
/I know, I hope we can tell him some time. Snuffles deserves a chance. I just hope we'll find the rat in time, before something happens that is beyond our control,/ Harry added worried.
Please Read AND Review.
Thx ,
Carya
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